Gordon to Abalos: ‘Computerize or resign’
By Juliet Labog-Javellana -- Inquirer
SENATOR Richard Gordon called for the resignation of Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos Wednesday for his resistance to implementing the partial automation of the 2007 elections.
Gordon said that despite the approval of the automation bill in the Senate last October 12, and much earlier in the House, Abalos has been "laying the predicate'' for its non-implementation by proclaiming there is no more time even for partial automation.
He said he was chagrined at Abalos' cavalier position on the automation, which he attributed to the Comelec chief’s allegedly favoring the voided automated computer machines of the Mega Pacific Consortium.
"If they can't take the heat, let them get out of the kitchen. It's time to resign,'' said Gordon, chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments.
But Gordon said Abalos has no choice but to implement poll automation, which is expected to be enacted into law next month after the two chambers reconcile differences in their versions of the proposed law.
The Senate bill seeks the use of computers in 12 pilot areas -- not six as earlier reported -- in the 2007 election, consisting of two provinces and two highly urbanized cities each in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The House version provides automation in some parts of the National Capital Region and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Gordon identified the possible pilot areas as Olongapo and Makati cities, Zambales and Laguna provinces in Luzon; Cebu and Bacolod cities and Negros and Aklan provinces in the Visayas; and Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro cities and Basilan and Bukidnon in Mindanao.
Gordon said the partial automation in these areas would require the purchase of 60,000 computers for the 30,000 precincts. He said the computers could be given to schools after the elections.
The senator said the partial automation is estimated to cost P1.4 billion, which he said is provided for in the 2006 budget of the Comelec. Full and nationwide automation is to be implemented in 2010.
Gordon said that despite the approval of the automation bill in the Senate last October 12, and much earlier in the House, Abalos has been "laying the predicate'' for its non-implementation by proclaiming there is no more time even for partial automation.
He said he was chagrined at Abalos' cavalier position on the automation, which he attributed to the Comelec chief’s allegedly favoring the voided automated computer machines of the Mega Pacific Consortium.
"If they can't take the heat, let them get out of the kitchen. It's time to resign,'' said Gordon, chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments.
But Gordon said Abalos has no choice but to implement poll automation, which is expected to be enacted into law next month after the two chambers reconcile differences in their versions of the proposed law.
The Senate bill seeks the use of computers in 12 pilot areas -- not six as earlier reported -- in the 2007 election, consisting of two provinces and two highly urbanized cities each in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The House version provides automation in some parts of the National Capital Region and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Gordon identified the possible pilot areas as Olongapo and Makati cities, Zambales and Laguna provinces in Luzon; Cebu and Bacolod cities and Negros and Aklan provinces in the Visayas; and Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro cities and Basilan and Bukidnon in Mindanao.
Gordon said the partial automation in these areas would require the purchase of 60,000 computers for the 30,000 precincts. He said the computers could be given to schools after the elections.
The senator said the partial automation is estimated to cost P1.4 billion, which he said is provided for in the 2006 budget of the Comelec. Full and nationwide automation is to be implemented in 2010.
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